April 29, 2007
Box Score
PEORIA, Ill. -
Sunday's baseball game between Illinois State and Bradley started different than the previous two, as it was ISU who took an early lead in the finale of the Missouri Valley Conference weekend series. Unfortunately for the Redbirds (18-23, 8-10 MVC), six late runs propelled the Braves (23-16, 7-8 MVC) to a 9-8 come from behind victory at O'Brien Field and a series sweep over ISU.
The Redbirds were 12-3 when leading after seven innings headed into the game, but the ISU bullpen struggled to get key outs late in the game. Freshman Ryan Copeland started the game for ISU and picked up the no decision, as he left the game in the seventh inning after allowing seven hits and five runs, only three of which were earned. Jim Sajewich then came on and only lasted a third of an inning and gave up three earned runs on four hits. Kyle O'Brien (3-2) eventually suffered the loss, as the left-hander surrendered the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. BU reliever Brad Altbach (6-2) earned the win, after throwing 2.1 scoreless innings of relief while striking out four batters.
ISU exploded in the top of the sixth inning, scoring six runs with two outs in the inning off BU starter Jon Goebel. Matt Bolt led off the game with a single and was then sacrificed to second base on bunt by Collin Salzenstein. Ryan Anetsberger then grounded out for the second out of the inning. Bolt then stole third and Kevin Dubler followed with a walk to keep the inning alive.
Jesse Griswold was up next and singled into right field, which scored Bolt from third to put ISU up 1-0. Mike Stalowy then singled into centerfield to score Dubler from third base as Griswold advanced to third base. O'Brien then laced a double into the right-centerfield gap to score both Griswold and Stalowy and widened the ISU lead to 4-0. Kyle Cherney followed with a double of his own to score O'Brien and then Mike Tokarski singled to keep the inning alive and advance Cherney to third base. That ended the day for Goebel and Chris Wright came in and immediately surrendered a double down the first baseline to Bolt, which scored Cherney and made the score 6-0. Salzenstein then fouled out to the catcher to end the inning for ISU.
After a scoreless bottom half of the first inning for Bradley, Anetsberger led off the second inning with his fifth home run of the season, a line shot over the left field wall, to widen the ISU lead to 7-0. Bradley would get on the board in the bottom of the third inning, courtesy of a Paul Rice RBI single, and cut into the ISU lead at 7-1. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Bradley tacked on two more runs to cut the lead to four runs at 7-3.
Salzenstein scored on a Griswold sacrifice fly to centerfield in the top of the eighth inning to widen the ISU lead to 8-3. However, that is where the wheels would fall off, as Bradley scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning with two outs to cut the lead to 8-7. Dan Brewer started the scoring with a RBI single and Bradley then loaded the bases for Ryan Eigsti, who proceeded to hit a two-run single into right field. Mike McMillan ended the scoring with a RBI bunt single, which scored Ryan Curry for the final run of the inning.
Bradley would then score two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 9-8 lead and win the game. RBI doubles by Colby Luttrell and Brewer plated the two go-ahead runs in the frame for Bradley and Altbach shut down ISU in the ninth inning to secure the victory. Bolt had two hits and a RBI on the day for ISU, while Griswold and O'Brien each chipped in with two RBI apiece.
ISU returns to action on Thursday, May 3, against cross-town rival Illinois Wesleyan in the annual Horenberger-Bass Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Redbird Field.
